Hi Global Recap readers,

It is truly a somber time for the world.

Amidst the Ukraine-Russia conflict, a new battlefront opens with the Israel-Palestine war. It’s not just soldiers that are fighting, but global citizens too, as factional clashes spill onto streets worldwide.

Today, we’re flipping the script and serving you the “In-Depth” section before “Top News” for a richer understanding of the conflict.

✍️ In-Depth

Israel
Surprise Hamas Attack on Israel
- Israel Formally Declares War

🚨 Hamas Strikes Israel. The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, launched a surprise attack from Gaza on Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis and taking hostages.

🚀 Rockets, Paragliders, and Tunnels. Hamas reportedly used various methods to infiltrate Israel, including firing thousands of rockets, flying paragliders over the border, and digging tunnels under the fence. They targeted military bases, towns, and farms, shooting at civilians and soldiers.

🇮🇱 Israel Fights Back. Israel responded with air strikes on Gaza and ground operations to repel the invaders. Despite its prowess, the sheer volume of incoming Hamas rockets reportedly overwhelmed Israel’s famed missile shield.

🎙️ Netanyahu’s response. On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and vowed to destroy its capabilities. He said Israel is facing a “long and difficult war” and called for international support.

🎵 The Party That Turned Into a Nightmare. Thousands of young Israelis and international tourists were enjoying a music festival in the desert near Gaza as Hamas invaded Israel. The festival-goers were caught in a hail of bullets as Hamas militants stormed the area, shooting indiscriminately and taking hostages. Some managed to escape or hide, while others were killed or abducted. Out of over 1,000 killed in the conflict, around 260 were from the festival site.

💰 6bln Unfrozen Iranian Funds. Biden’s administration has come under fire, with critics swiftly pointing fingers at them for sparking the war. The release of $6 billion in Iranian funds during a recent US-Iran prisoner swap has been singled out as a particularly egregious misstep.

🇮🇷 What does Iran have to do with this? It has recently been revealed that Iran helped Hamas plan the attack for months. However, on Sunday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the unfrozen funds have not been spent yet, further clarifying that “no US taxpayer dollars were involved.”

Also, please beware of online misinformation from both sides (e.g. old videos being used as if they are recent). For more updates on the conflict, please subscribe to our X (Twitter) account.

📈 Top News

Notable Reactions

• Arab League: Urged an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza and condemned Israel’s violent and extremist policies.

• China: Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tension and violence and called for calm, restraint, and ceasefire from all parties.

• European Union: Condemned the attacks by Hamas as horrific and unacceptable, labeling them terrorism.

• Egypt: Warned of grave consequences from the escalation of violence. Called for restraint and protection of civilians.

• Hezbollah: Supported the Palestinian resistance and said it was a decisive response to Israel’s occupation. Criticized those seeking normalization with Israel.

• India: Expressed shock by the terrorist attacks in Israel and said it stood in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

• Iran: Congratulated the Palestinian fighters and said it would stand by them until the liberation of Palestine

• NATO: Condemned terrorist attacks by Hamas against its partner Israel. Said terrorism is a fundamental threat to free societies. Said Israel has the right to defend itself.

• Russia: Said it was in contact with Israel, the Palestinians, and Arab countries. Called for restraint from all parties.

• Saudi Arabia: Expressed concern over the clashes and blamed Israel for its blatant attacks. Called for an immediate cessation of violence between both sides.

• Turkey: Called on Israelis and Palestinians to act with restraint and refrain from hostile acts that could exacerbate the situation. Urged all parties to avoid aggressive acts.

• Ukraine: Condemned what it called a terror attack on Israel. Said Israel’s right to defend itself cannot be doubted. Expressed support for Israel and its people.

• United Nations: Expressed deep concern for the civilian population and urged maximum restraint. Called for an immediate cessation of violence in accordance with international humanitarian law.

• United States: Condemned in unambiguous terms the appalling Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. Said there is never any justification for terrorism. Stood firmly with Israel’s right to defend itself.

🚢 US Navy Ships to Rescue Americans from Israel. The US military is sending ships and planes near Israel to show support and prepare for a possible evacuation of Americans amid the escalating conflict.

According to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the US will also begin supplying Israel with military supplies immediately.

Click for more

📝 US Authorities Verify Reports of American Deaths. According to reports, at least 11 Americans have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attacks. This number is expected to rise. Meanwhile, US authorities are “working overtime” to verify additional reports of American casualties in Israel.

Click for more

🇺🇸 US Cities Divided Over Middle East Conflict. As violence escalates in the Middle East, Americans have taken to the streets to show their support for either Israel or Palestine. With tensions boiling over, supporters of Israel and Palestine have turned Kirkland and New York City into battlegrounds, leading to several arrests and injuries.

One demonstrator even held up an image of the swastika.

Click for more

🚀 Iran’s Top Adviser Praises Hamas for Bombing Israel. A close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has congratulated Palestinian militants for launching the biggest rocket attack on Israel in years. He vowed to stand by them until Palestine and Jerusalem were “liberated.”

Click for more